I love Burgundies, I adore the area and the people of Burgundy – and the more time I spend there, the more I need indulge in more Burgundian endeavors and celebrate this tremendous region.
It’s always important to remember that Burgundy wines are made for hedonistic pleasure and joy, and they are made for celebrating and having a good time. They are not made for speculation or investment .. they should be enjoyed with friends and fellow Burgundy collectors.
Photo: La Paulée de New York 2017
La Paulée is both an old Burgundian tradition and the annual American celebration of Burgundian wine, where aficionados get together and celebrate the love for Burgundian wine and food and to honor and cheer the producers who make such fabulous wines.
This year La Paulée is held in New York and takes place on March 7th to March 11th 2017.
The history of La Paulée – from Meursault to New York
La Paulée is a Burgundian celebration held at the end of the harvest. This was once a widespread practice throughout France – and the most known is the festivities held in Meursault.
La Paulée de Meursault is part of Les Trois Glorieuses, “the three glorious days,” that take place around Beaune on the third weekend of each November.
The first day centers on a Saturday banquet hosted by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin at the Château du Clos Vougeot. On Sunday, the renowned auction of Hospices de Beaune wines is held in the beautiful fifteenth century Hôtel-Dieu. The grand finale of this oenophilic trilogy is La Paulée, an extravagant luncheon that starts at noon on Monday at the Château de Meursault and continues well into the evening.
The modern day La Paulée was initiated by Jules Lafon in 1923 when he decided to revive the traditional medieval harvest celebration.
Lafon held his first Paulée at his Meursault domaine, inviting thirty-five of his friends to a small banquet in the vat-room. Neighbouring vignerons decided that Lafon had an excellent idea, and over the next few years La Paulée de Meursault expanded rapidly. By 1932, it was officially established as a annual event.
Over the years, La Paulée has changed a bit from the original banquet for growers and their workers. The official La Paulée has now become a grand gala attended by Meursault growers and producers along with other wine connoisseurs. It is a privilege to attend and reservations are mostly made a year in advance.
So while some collectors has the opportunity to attend La Paulée in Meursault, most of us must and shall celebrate Burgundy elsewhere. La Paulée in New York is the perfect occasion to meet peers .. and a great chance to celebrate Burgundian wine like there is no tomorrow.
Daniel Johnnes created La Paulée in New York back in 2000 – and it has since held this event each year in various venues in US – so the annual chance to pull some Burgundian corks and taste some great bottles.
Days of excess and hedonistic indulgence
To be honest the wines opened during La Paulée seems almost sinful … as countless top wines often in large formats are opened to celebrate. Some seem to think it’s too much when it happens in New York, but one rarely hear the same about the celebration in Meursault, where the vignerons and the guests celebrate like there is no tomorrow with the same indulgence and disregard of modesty.
In my view these celebrations are capturing the very spirit of the Burgundian wines .. they are to be enjoyed with good people that are together to have a great time with food and wine.
Time to get your tickets to La Paulée 2017
Large celebrations are not possible without plans, and its time to make yours, if you want to attend La Paulée 2017 in New York.
The tickets are now available at the La Paulée website, where you can see the program for the week, and decide what events you want to attend.
With the program at hand you can also contact your Bourgundian friends from all over the world, and make arrangements during La Paulée – its a unique chance to meet some of the wine friends you meet during the year on social media or at tastings throughout the world.
There is also a chance to meet many of the top Vignerons from Burgundy, who graciously attend this celebration each year. At the 2017 edition you will have the possibility to meet Aubert de Villaine from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Christophe Roumier of Domaine Georges Roumier, Eric Rousseau of Domaine Armand Rousseau, Erwan Faiveley of Domaine Faiveley alongside a lot of other prominent vignerons – see the full list here.